Last question: how does the PowerBridge version stack up against these two? Which one is your favorite of the V1 lines?

I demoed the XV1 and liked it a lot, more control than the Babs, soft feel etc. However I ended up blindly buying the PB V1 at half the price. After the strings settled in, I cant tell a huge difference and so I purchased a second one. Unfortunately if you want them, you will have to go the used route.